April 02, 2014
Peters concerned with Whanau funding
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says Whanau Ora commissioning agencies aren’t being given enough money to make the system work, as it is inherently more expensive than the alternatives.
It was confirmed yesterday that National Urban Maori Authority will set up the commissioning agency for the North Island, working with urban and iwi providers alike to design better services for Maori.
Mr Peters says he noted that much of the negotiation had been about how much the government was willing to pay for a Maori organisation to take over some of its functions.
He says NUMA heads John Tamihere and Willie Jackson were trying to get far more than they got.
"To make the system go, it’s going to cost a fortune. That’s the problem with it. Other systems would cost much less and be as effective. I have to give it to Willie and John about their success there but they were right to say this is not enough money to make this happen," Mr Peters says.
He doesn’t accept the premise that the family that spawned the child that has gone off the rails is the best one to look after its recovery back into society.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WINSTON PETERS CLICK ON THE LINK
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